domingo

Borrowed from Spanish domingo, from a shortening of Late Latin diēs Dominicus (“Sunday”, literally “day of the Lord”).


Ɂ

The thirty-fifth letter of the Cahuilla alphabet, written in the Latin script.


ne-

I. First person singular pronoun added to a verb to show its subject.

My. First person singular possessive pronoun added to a noun to show its possessor.


kish

From Proto-Uto-Aztecan *ki. Cognate with Northern Tepehuan kií.


manal

Opuntia basilaris (beavertail cactus or beavertail prickly pear)


sukat

deer; especially the California mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus californicus)


muut

Bubo virginianus
Bubo virginianus#Translingual


tutut

Leafless shrubs in the genus Ephedra used to make tea


navet

From Proto-Uto-Aztecan [Term?] (compare Classical Nahuatl nohpalli).

a kind of prickly pear cactus, perhaps Opuntia engelmannii

cactus (any member of the family Cactaceae, a family of flowering New World succulent plants)


tavut

cottontail rabbit (esp. Sylvilagus audubonii)


suul

a kind of grass used to make baskets: deergrass, Muhlenbergia rigens


hul

húl (canonical)
húl (nominative singular)
hú'li (objective singular)


chah

Uncertain. The Cahuilla are known to have had contact with English and Spanish, which mostly use tea and té, respectively, though both have cha as a rarer variant.


hem-

They. Third person plural pronoun added to a verb to show its subject.

Their. Third person plural pronoun added to a noun to show its possessor.


pangat

Possibly from pál (“water”) + the locative suffix -nga, thus "that which is in water"

A kind of tule or bulrush, Schoenoplectus americanus


sewel

A bush which can be used as soap. Probably Atriplex polycarpa


he-

his/her/its; third person singular pronoun added to a noun to show its possessor


mutal

A cholla of species Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa


taxliswet

táxliswet (canonical)
táxliswetem (plural)

From Proto-Uto-Aztecan *taka + ? + -wet.


chaxwal

head

cháxwal (absolute singular cháxwal, plural cháxwalem)

cháxwal (canonical)
cháxwal (absolute singular)
cháxwalem (plural)


wikikmal

wíkikmal (canonical)
wíkikmallem (plural)
wíkikmal (nominative singular)
wíkikmallem (nominative plural)
wíkikma'lli (objective singular)
wíkikmallmi (objective plural)
wíkikma' (genitive singular)
wíkikmam (genitive plural)
wíkikmay (genitive objective singular)
wíkikmami (genitive objective plural)

root: wíki + reduplication: wíkik + diminutive: -mal = wíkikmal


'iswet

A large carnivore, either a wolf or a jaguar


'awal

'áwal (absolute singular 'áwal, plural 'á'walem, possessed singular 'awal hé'ash, plural 'á'walem hé'achem)

'áwal (canonical)
'áwal (absolute singular)
'á'walem (plural)
'á'walem hé'achem (plural)


'awal

'áwal (absolute singular 'áwal, possessed singular 'áw'a)

'áwal (canonical)
'áwal (absolute singular)


tenill

Antilocapra americana
Antilocapra americana#Translingual

pronghorn antelope, Antilocapra americana


hunal

From Proto-Cupan [Term?], from Proto-Uto-Aztecan *hula-ta.


hunwet

From Proto-Uto-Aztecan *hula-wït-ta, equivalent to hunal (“badger”) + -wet (“big”).


'alwet

'álwet (absolute singular 'álwet, plural 'álwetem)

'álwet (canonical)
'álwet (absolute singular)
'álwetem (plural)
'álwet (nominative singular)
'álwetem (nominative plural)
'álwe'ti (objective singular)
'álwetmi (objective plural)
'álwe' (genitive singular)
álwem (genitive plural)
álwe'i (genitive objective singular)
álwemi (genitive objective plural)

crow-like small black bird

'álwamall (root: 'álw- + extension vowel: -a- + diminutive termination: -mall)


'amul

ámul (absolute singular ámul, plural ámulem)

ámul (canonical)
ámul (absolute singular)
ámulem (plural)

From Proto-Uto-Aztecan [Term?] (compare Classical Nahuatl ahmōlli, which refers to Agave species used for soap).


'alukul

álukul (absolute singular álukul, plural 'álukulam)

álukul (canonical)
álukul (absolute singular)
'álukulam (plural)


'anet

ánet (absolute singular ánet, plural ántem)

ánet (canonical)
ánet (absolute singular)
ántem (plural)


'aswet

'áswet (absolute singular áswet, possessed singular áswet hé'ash)

'áswet (canonical)
áswet (absolute singular)


'atmal

átmal (absolute singular átmal, plural átmalem)

átmal (canonical)
átmal (absolute singular)
átmalem (plural)


'atut

Prunus virginiana
Prunus virginiana#Translingual


'avasill

A willow of species Salix gooddingii, of southwestern US and northern Mexico.


cha'ish

A species of jay, the Western Scrub Jay, Aphelocoma californica


chamish

Prunus ilicifolia
Prunus ilicifolia#Translingual

The holly-leaved cherry, Prunus ilicifolia


chawa'al

cháwa'al (absolute singular cháwa'al, plural cháwa'am, possessed singular cháw'a)

cháwa'al (canonical)
cháwa'al (absolute singular)
cháwa'am (plural)


chawish

A type of sandal formerly worn by the Cahuilla


chivnish

Compare Luiseño chevnash, Ute (Chemehuevi) cupanivi, Tübatulabal čahpani·l

A species of plant, yerba mansa (Anemopsis californica)


chukal

cholla (type of cactus), especially the teddy bear cholla (Cylindropuntia bigelovii)


tamakeñish

támal (“mouth”) + kéñish (“good-tasting, sweet”)


henil

redshanks, ribbonwood, Adenostoma sparsifolium, a woody shrub native to southern California in the US and northern Baja California in Mexico.


hikusal

A soft spot on a baby's head, a fontanel


huat

The iodine bush, Allenrolfea occidentalis


huulvel

A plant used in traditional Cahuilla ritual and medicine, California sagebrush (Artemisia californica)


'ikat

A net with a loop around the forehead that was used to carry heavy loads on the back


'ill

The honey mesquite, Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana


kavaayu

Borrowed from Spanish caballo, from Latin caballus.


kayval

A species of jay: the Steller's Jay, Cyanocitta stelleri


kelel

manzanita, any of several species of Arctostaphylos


killimu'at

a western whiptail lizard (Cnemidophorus tigris)


payul

A western whiptail, a lizard of species Cnemidophorus tigris


kisill

Falco peregrinus
Falco peregrinus#Translingual

A species of hawk, perhaps the peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus


kukul

Megascops kennicottii
Megascops kennicottii#Translingual

A species of owl, perhaps the western screech owl, Megascops kennicottii


'akawat

The devil's claw or unicorn plant (Proboscidea althaeifolia)


'aklakul

An annual plant with yellow flowers and edible seeds, Goldfields, Lasthenia californica


'ashwet

A species of shrub, toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia


'asill

An annual plant with edible, peppery seeds, tansy mustard, Descurainia pinnata.


mechewel

A yellow-flowered bushy perennial, alkali goldenbush, alkali jimmyweed (Isocoma acradenia)


hulaqal

A shrub, wild buckwheat, any of several species of Eriogonum


ki'awet

A plant: any of several annual or perennial species of Chenopodium


kikesewva'al

A hallucinogenic plant used in traditional rituals, jimsonweed, Datura wrightii


kuku'ul

A yucca-like plant, a beargrass (Nolina bigelovii)


kupash

A barrel cactus, probably the California red barrel (Ferocactus cylindraceus)


kuspill

Kúspi petuk (petuk: (adv) inside); inside of her/his throat

(synonym) paxwáyva'al; inside of her/his throat


kuspill

-qélla- (canonical)
kúspill (nominative singular)
kúspillem (nominative plural)
kúspi'lli (objective singular)
kúspillmi (objective plural)
kúspi (genitive singular)
kúspim (genitive plural)
kúspiy (genitive objective singular)
kúspimi (genitive objective plural)

kúspi qéllaka (future inceptive -ka); her/his throat is beginning to feel sore, i.e. she/he has a sore throat

-témin- (causative -ni-) to cause to close

kúspiy petéminqal; it is causing her/his throat to close

kúspiy~peytéminva'al (verbal noun phrase) - lit. throat_where-it-causes-to-close; (Cahuilla grammar) the glottal stop < ' >; e.g. < va'al>

peytéminva'al (causative root témi-n + 2nd class O-S prefix: pe-y, + "place of" suffix: va'al); lit. Jail, or "place of causing to close"


ku'ut

Typha latifolia
Typha latifolia#Translingual


qwasanemchiip

A kind of bird, described as "bald-headed", perhaps the verdin


qwa'al

Buteo jamaicensis
Buteo jamaicensis#Translingual

A kind of hawk, perhaps the red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis


qwiñill

A California black oak (Quercus kelloggii), the California oak species with the best acorns for eating.


laqachill

hide, leather, something made from leather


malmal

butterfly; especially the queen (Danaus gilippus)


mawul

fan palm, especially the California fan palm (Washingtonia filifera)


maxayill

Zenaida macroura
Zenaida macroura#Translingual


naqwet

A type of sumac, the sugar bush, Rhus ovata


nexish

The coyote gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima), a wild plant related to squash, the fruits of which can be used for soap.


ninill

The fruit of the yucca, especially the banana yucca, Yucca baccata, which was sweet and edible after roasting.


pakpish

A flat paddle used in traditional pottery-making.


pal vukivash

pál vúkivash (canonical)
pál vúkish (alternative)


palnat

An annual native sage with prickly leaves and edible seeds, Salvia carduacea


panu'ul

A kind of yucca used to make rope, Yucca whipplei or Hesperoyucca whipplei)


pasal

An annual native sage with nutritious seeds, chia, Salvia columbariae


pasukat

Probably pál (“water”) + súkat (“deer”).


patavniva'al

A stone with a groove in it, formerly used to straighten arrows


paxal

Phragmites australis
Phragmites australis#Translingual

The reed, either native Phragmites australis, or introduced Arundo donax.


pahankish

A tall, reed-like grass, with stems used for making arrows, the giant wild rye, Leymus condensatus


pa'iwet

Some kind of small rodent, perhaps a vole, deer mouse or pocket mouse


pa'ul

A kind of tule or bulrush, probably either Schoenoplectus acutus or Schoenoplectus californicus


pikllam

Fragaria vesca
Fragaria vesca#Translingual

strawberry, either the native Fragaria vesca or the cultivated Fragaria × ananassa


pivat

tobacco, originally referring to any one of the native species of Nicotiana, which were important in traditional rituals and ceremonies.


piyaxat

A kind of caterpillar that used to be eaten by the Cahuilla, Hyles lineata


piy'xwal

A kind of small lizard, possibly the western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis


puuish

púuish (canonical)
púuish (nominative singular)
púish (nominative singular)
púhchem (nominative plural)
púui'chi (objective singular)
púi'chi (objective singular)
púhshmi (objective plural)
púu' / pú' (genitive singular)
púu'i / pú'i (genitive plural)
púum / púm (genitive objective singular)
púumi / púmi (genitive objective plural)

root: Púu (onomatopoeic; the Roadrunner's call [Seiler;Hioki]) + termination: -ish


qashill

A kind of locoweed with pods that can be used as a seasoning


qawal

A kind of rat, perhaps a woodrat in the genus Neotoma


qaxal

Callipepla californica
Callipepla californica#Translingual

A kind of quail, the valley quail or California quail, Callipepla californica


qaxawet

Oreortyx pictus
Oreortyx pictus#Translingual

A kind of quail, the Mountain Quail, Oreortyx pictus


qingish

A kind of ground squirrel, probably the California ground squirrel, Otospermophilus beecheyi


saqapish

(Mountain Cahuilla dialect) kind of edible mushroom that grows on cottonwood stumps


qaxalkut

A kind of wild gourd, possibly Cucurbita digitata


saankat

One or more kinds of plants with sticky leaves, including Adenostoma sparsifolium


selet

A kind of sumac with sour, edible berries and flexible stems used for making baskets, Rhus trilobata


sewaxill

séwaxill (canonical)
séwaxillem (plural)


sikawet

A kind of squirrel, the western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus)


simut

A kind of grass that grows in alkaline soils, saltgrass, Distichlis spicata


'eswanawet

'eswánawet (canonical)
'eswánawtem (plural)


suwanawet

suwánawet (canonical)
suwánawtem (plural)


saval

bark, skin, shell (the outer covering of something).


tallki

mariposa lily, or Indian potato, plants in the genus Calochortus with showy flowers and edible bulbs.


tanwivel

A plant used medicinally by the Cahuilla, yerba santa, Eriodictyon trichocalyx


tataxsill

A kind of small lizard, especially the western whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris).


tavish

Colaptes auratus
Colaptes auratus#Translingual

A kind of woodpecker, the flicker, Colaptes auratus


taxmingkik

taxmíngkik (canonical)
taxmíngkiktem (plural)


tachikal

táchikal (canonical)
táchikulam (plural)
táchiklam (plural)

A kind of cicada found on mesquite, Diceroprocta apache


tachikulam

táchikulam (canonical)
táchiklam (alternative)


tachiklam

táchiklam (canonical)
táchikulam (alternative)


tesevel

A plant used for greens, probably Chylismia claviformis


tevat

pinyon (either the pine or the nuts)
single-leaf pinyon (Pinus monophylla)

pinyon (either the pine or the nuts)
Parry pinyon (Pinus quadrifolia)


'e-

You (singular). Second-person singular pronoun added to a verb to show its subject.

Your (singular). Second person singular pronoun added to a noun to show its possessor.


'em-

You (plural). Second person plural pronoun added to a verb to show its subject.

Your (plural). Second person plural pronoun added to a noun to show its possessor.


chem-

We. First person plural pronoun added to a verb to show its subject.

Our. First person plural pronoun added to a noun to show its possessor.


tevinmall

tévinmall (canonical)
tévinmallem (plural)
tévillmall (alternative)


ting'ayvash

tíng'ayvash (canonical)
tíng'ayvachem (plural)


tiwill

A kind of small mushroom that grows under trees


tuchill

túchill (canonical)
túshllem (plural)
tučil̃ (alternative)

hummingbird; especially Costa's hummingbird (Calypte costae)


tutumish

tútumish (canonical)
tútumichem (plural)

A kind of beetle that defends itself by raising its abdomen and releasing a pungent odor, the stink beetle or pinacate


'u'ut

A kind of woody shrub, chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum


vaaka'

Borrowed from Spanish vaca, from Latin vacca.


waxachill

wáxachill (canonical)
wáxashllem (plural)


wesanwet

wésanwet (canonical)
wésanwetem (plural)


weevu'

Borrowed from Spanish huevo, from Latin ōvum.


wiyal

A kind of cactus, Cylindropuntia ramosissima


wiyelelek

wíyelelek (canonical)
wíyelelekem (plural)


wi'asill

Any of species Quercus agrifolia, a coast live oak,


wi'at

A kind of oak: the canyon live oak, Quercus chrysolepis


wewelpish

wéwelpish (canonical)
wéwelpichem (plural)

(Desert Cahuilla dialect) A kind of mushroom


wiirupish

Borrowed from Spanish güiro, from Taíno [Term?].


xuull

Probably from Spanish frijol, from Latin phaseolus, from Ancient Greek φάσηλος (phásēlos).


'amiwoki

Borrowed from Spanish amigo, from Latin amīcus, from amō (“I love”).


'ash

head

'ásh (possessed singular hé'ash, plural he'áchem)


chipatmal

chípatmal (absolute singular chípatmal, possessed singular chípatma, plural chípatmalem)

chípatmal (canonical)
chípatmal (absolute singular)
chípatmalem (plural)

a type of basket used for sifting or winnowing


ɂ

The thirty-fifth letter of the Cahuilla alphabet, written in the Latin script.